The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-03-12
Our State Capital Correspondence.
to the CARBON ADVOCATE.

! TE.
MARCH Q, 1887
The present Legislature promises to make
for itself name which will live in all DOS
terity. 1t proposes to begin the erection of
new State Capitol;the scheme proposed is
in embryo as yet, but it will be developed by
and by, unless something unforeseen and
unsuspected should present itself. A Joint
resolution is now being considered by the
Committee on Buildings and Grounds,
which provides for the appointment of n
commission, advertising for plans and
the payment of premium for the best plan
furnished, and an appropriation of $780,
600 with which to begin operations. The
erection of new State Capitol is daily
growing in favor with all legislators who
express themselves as being disguised with
the patched-up building now in use, ard
claim that not only the growing necessities
OF the legislative department, but State
pride, demands the erection of new build
ing. When the idea of the erection of a
new building was first suggested fears were
entertained that the old cry of removal
would be brought up and spoil the success
of the scheme. This will not be the case.
however, and if new Capitol is erected at
all it will he built on the hill, just South of
the present structure; to do this it will be
necessary to tear down the building used
by the Secretary of Internal Affairs. Bv
doing this the old Capitol can stand until
the new building is made ready for occu-
pancv. 1t may interest the numerous read
ers of the ADVOCATE to know that the
present buildings were erected between
1913 and 1922, the cornerstone having
been laid on May 81, 1919. by Governor
Finday. The seat of State government
had been moved from Lancaster TO Harris,
burg in 1872, and the first session of the
Legislature that was held in Harrisburg
met in the old Court House building which
was occupied as a legislative hall ten years,
as the Assembly did not take possession of
the new Capitol until January 2, 1922. IL
is just now very interesting to know how
much these buildings cost sixty-fye years
ago. The first appropriation was that of
1916, amounting to $4,000; in 1919 S7O.-
900 more was appropriated and spent, and
in 1928 the columns and front portico were
erected at cost of Sl5, ,OOO-a total of sl35.-
goo. In 1864 the State spent $4,000 in
repairs and upon the library, and in 1874
the Capitol was enlarged at a cost of over
$4,000, which not counting the repairs
made from time to time upon the two
chambers and the committee rooms, is a
grand total cost to the present time of
S2SO,OOO. The cost OF the State buildings
and grounds was as follows: Executive
Offices, $4,000; cost of arsenal, $4,000;
cost Of grounds, $4,000; cost of Executive
$4,000.
Governor Beaver is very much opposed |
to the erection Of new building, although
the state finances justify the building of
ihe same, unless there should be "a radical
change made in the Slate revenue laws
which would cut down the surplus. There
IS over million more money in the Sink
ing Fund than is required by law. and al
though il cannot be got out, that amount
would not be increased II the new Capitol
we're to be erected. But, as a prominent
legislator remarked TO me the other day in
'peaking of the proposed nsw project: